Recommendations for 79 P Bass

[boombiscuits]

I own a 1979 Precision with EMG active pickups. I want to remove the EMGs and go with a pickup that will make this bass sound like it was originally intended to sound. Any and all recommendations are appreciated.

 

[Luckydog]

I have a 79 P. Bought it with SD QP pups which I detest. Replaced with SD SPB-1 and it now has one of the best P tones I have experienced.

 

[Bass4ThePublic]

Mojotone makes a “70s clone” p bass pickup

 

[Snaxster]

I own a 1979 Precision with EMG active pickups. I want to remove the EMGs and go with a pickup that will make this bass sound like it was originally intended to sound. Any and all recommendations are appreciated.

Hello. This old post of mine is in answer to a very similar question:

Hello. You could ask The Pickup Wizard to make you a P pickup with plain enamel coil wire.

I review one here:

Mini-review: The Pickup Wizard custom, hand wound, split coil Precision bass pickup

Though I own two mid-1970s Precision Bass pickups, they don't sound the same, and I never compared them directly to that Pickup Wizard pickup.

You could also try Sullivan Music Equipment, who make a 70s style P bass pickup. They do excellent work at a great price.

I would go with the plain enamel one by The Pickup Wizard.

 

[bigtone23]

The enamel wired versions will be the closest to get that late 70s, brighter P tone.
However, the SPB-1 is just a touch sweeter (and cheaper and easier to find), which often compliments the ash/maple Ps.

 

[TC.65]

I have a 79 P. Bought it with SD QP pups which I detest. Replaced with SD SPB-1 and it now has one of the best P tones I have experienced.

I'm with you on the SPB-1. I just put one in my Squier Matt Freeman PBass and it has a pure vintage tone. I have a 2011 MIM PBass that I bought used and it came with the QP pickup. While I don't completely hate it I will be replacing it at some point with something that has a more original PBass tone.

 

[Jefenator]

I haven't tried the Lollar standard P in my '78 yet, but I'm seriously thinking about it. (So far I've had a mystery/cheapo raised A, Lindy Fralin and Aero Type 4A.)
If it's anything like their SCPB and J models I've tried, I expect it will knock it out of the park and cure me of my restlessness with full, even response and just the right amount of vintage thickness / mojo.

 

[4StringTheorist]

There are honestly so many out there that will do what you want. The Seymour Duncan SPB-1 is the meat and potatoes reference standard, and is inexpensive and easy to find. There are tons more. Aguilar, Lollar, Nordstrand, the EMG Geezer (non active, despite EMG being known for their actives), Fender themselves (of course) and many more makers. So many really fine P pickups that honor the tradition of the instrument.

 

[e-flat]

I've owned a '75 sunburst alder P Bass w/ Rosewood board (been several years...) but the pickup in that bass was really articulate for a P Bass pickup. Less throaty (low mid) than some P pickups I've heard, but with a nice clear upper mid. Based on that:

For current production pickups, I've loved the Novak PB-V in both an ash and an alder P Bass build. It has a bit of the throaty low mids WITH the articulate high mids. Highly recommended.

 

[JimmyM]

EMG Geezer is my choice. SPB-1 runs a close second for me.

 

[somebrains]

I’d go with Fralins, specifically 10% overwound bc I need signal to choke down using a setup similar to this guy: